Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-06
FROM THE TERRITORY.
How Christmas was Passed at Ana
darko-Hunting the Chief Sport
for the Men-Religious
Services.
Much Interest Manifested in the Indian
Severa,ty Bill-Tes ans on The Kiowa
and Comanche Reservation.
Correspondence of the Gazette.

Correspondence of the Gazette.
ANADARKo, 1T, Jan 2.-Christmss mas
come and gone, with us as with the CIV
ilized world. The event here was duly
celebrated IN the orthodox manner with
balls, parties and Christmas trees. We
had no preaching among the whites,
though the Wichita Indians set US bet
ter example in that line by holding
services all the week through. Their
reservation is on the north side OF the
river and they have small chapel about
four miles from the agency. The Wlch-
ftas are Baptists, and very devout. but as
they preach, pray and sing in their own
lingo 1t is not very edfying to the aver
age white; though the whites frequently
attend and always take a hand in that
part of the service Ineligible to them,
the contribution box. We feel at home
when the hat starts around.
Amoag the gentlemen here the most
popular diversion is deer hunting. Deer
are plentiful throughout the reservation,
and hunting parties are frequent and
sometimes protracted, but if solitary
deer has ever been killed by them yet the
fact is unknown to the anxious public.
But to make up for this we usually kill
fine lot of wild turkeys. The turkeys are
more accommodating than the deer, and
will quietly hop up in tree and go to
sleep within sight of camp. We kill tur-
keys and hunt deer.
Our gun club is pretty well equipped
with rotary trap and glass balls, breech-
loading shotguns and Winchester rifles,
setter and pointer dogs, good wall tent,
a tishing-seine aud a boat. The boat is
lab ruhara tho ynnpd
lily, the wild duck and the gamy trout
have their habitat. Near this lake are the
antiquated remains of an olden-
time Confederate agency, managed
then by one Leeper, who, we
understand, is yet living at Sherman, Tex.
Leeper was dismissed by band OF loyal
ly inclined Indians, who failed to approve
of Albert Pike and The Southern Confed-
eracy. These Indians emphasized their
objections by burning the agency. killing
some men and running the rest away, but
they kindly left the lake, and for even that
much we are thankful. The locality is
eight miles up the Washita river from the
present agency.
The Indian severaity DILL now pending
in congress is being closely watched by
both whites and Indians. If the opinion
of the house, that two years is time
enough for the Indians to select their
eliotments, is concurred in by the senate
and becomes law there will be many an
eve watching for chances in this fair re-
gion. If the Indians should leave any IA
occupied land on the Washits it would be
eagerly grabbed, as the experience OF
Smith Paul's valley below US proves the
land along this river to be OF wonderful
fertility. But there seems to be portion
of congress disposed to extend the time
for opening the Territory to twenty Live
wears, and if this is done it will place the
nickel-plated opportunity tor obtaining O
good home cheap too late for busy men
of this generation. However, no man
need grumble nor be homeless at present,
for Texas has yet wide domain unset
tied, and her land is as valuable IS this,
and as cheap.
There is not an Indian on this reserva
ton (Kiowa and Comanche) who has
selected his allotment of land, though
the privilege has been allowed from the
time of making the treaty. But tbs
influence of the agent, with the aid Of the
schools, Is doing much to urge them or
toward civilized ways, and already
in the Kiowa school there
are number of young Kiowas desirou:
of claiming their allotments and viii
make application as soon sas there agent
returns. These boys are from eighteen
to twenty years of age, and most OF then
can speak English. This will be there
first break from their old Traditions, but
the boys are beginning to see the poin
and want the first choice of the land. The
older Indians simply laugh, but the boys
hang on to their proposition.
Perhaps it may interest your readers tc
know what Texans are at this agency, anC
| will give them IS l can call them tC
mind: j. Lee Hall, agent, wife anc
children; W. C. Morrill, and wife
of Fort Worth; J. X P. Campbell O
Paris; William Irving and family O
Sherman; Jim Massey # Sherman; L. n
Horubeck and family and j. D Armstrong
of Honey Grove; DR.. Graves and family
of Whitesboro; Miss Elnits Thompson o.
Cuero DIR. Hubbard of Baird, and jim
Carson of Greenville.
The new railroad now pushing through
the Territory from Caldwell on the NORTH
and Gainesville on the south is making
rapid progress. The managers report
trains will be running through by Nav l
1t passes east of this place about fit!
miles, and some point on that road neal
the Waehita will then become the pas
senger and traffic depot for all thi:
country.